Rob Heffernan will receive the bronze medal for the 20km walk at the 2010 European Championships in Cork tonight, awarded to him after winner Stanislav Emelyanov of Russia failed to meet doping standards.

Three senior IAAF officials have stepped down from their posts with athletics' world governing body pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of a cover-up of systematic doping in Russia.

Athletics is at the centre of fresh claims about doping after it was alleged the sport's world governing body the IAAF turned a blind eye to suspicious blood tests involving 150 athletes including from Britain.

The Russian Athletics Federation may take legal action after German TV alleged widespread doping and cover-ups among the country's track and field competitors, according to the president of the organisation.